Evaluation of albendazole, pyrantel, bephenium, pyrantel-praziquantel and pyrantel-bephenium for single-dose mass treatment of necatoriasis

Abstract

An effective drug for single-dose mass treatment of necatoriasis was sought by testing three drugs and two drug combinations in Ethiopian immigrants to Israel found to have light infections. The drugs tested sequentially in single-doses were pyrantel pamoate (20mg kg⁻¹, 81 subjects); bephenium hydroxynaphthoate (2·5–5 g, 65 subjects); combined pyrantel and bephenium (25 subjects); combined pyrantel (20 mg kg⁻¹) and praziquantel (40 mg kg⁻¹) (16 subjects); and albendazole (400 mg, 77 subjects). Follow-up under conditions without likelihood of reinfection was by one stool examination. Cure rates with albendazole, pyrantel-bephenium and pyrantel-praziquantel were 84, 80 And 81% respectively; these rates were significantly higher than the 49% found for bephenium and the 51% for pyrantel (P<0·05). Egg reductions in those not cured were pyrantel (22%), bephenium (6%), pyrantel-bephenium (34%), pyrantel-praziquantel (3%) and albendazole (6%). albendazole was the most promising single drug treatment; unexpected was the high effectiveness of pyrantel-praziquantel in combination.